Top construction for chicken coops



March 31, 1964 G. W..SHRECK HISE TOP CONSTRUCTION FOR CHICKEN COOPS Filed May 18, 1962 United States Patent M I 3,127,043 TOP CONSTRUCTIGN FGR CHICKEN CQQPEi George W. Shreckhise, PJQ- Box 92, Weyers Cave, Va. Filed May 13, 1962, Ser. No. 195,809 2 Claims. or 217-47 This invention relates to coops for chickens or other fowl, and more particularly to an improved top construction for such a coop.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a top construction which has increased strength and durability, and wherein there is provided a closure which has a novel and highly efilcient latching means.

A further object is to provide a top construction which includes a hingedly mounted or pivotally mounted closure that can be readily and conveniently opened or closed, and wherein the top construction includes parts that are arranged so that they will withstand rough usage and heavy loads which may be placed thereon.

Still another object is to provide such a top construction for poultry coops that is both rugged in structure and foolproof in operation and which is economical to manufacture and efilcient in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of the top construction of a poultry coop, constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the top, and showing the closure in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the closure in open position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top construction of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral it indicates a portion of a chicken or poultry coop or crate which includes upright spaced parallel intermediate posts 11 as well as corner posts 12, and the present invention is directed to the top construction which is indicated generally by the numeral 14, and the top construction 14 is of rectangular formation and is horizontally disposed.

As shown in the drawings the top construction 14 includes a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel cross bars 15 and 16, and there is further provided a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed side rails 17 which are arranged at right angles with respect to the cross bars 15 and 16 and which are afiixed thereto. The side rails 17 are arranged above the cross bars 15 and 15. The numeral 18 designates each of a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel stringers which are interposed between the side rails 17, and the stringers 18 are arranged in the same plane as the side rails 17. The numerals 19, 20 and 21 indicate first, second and third spaced parallel cross pieces which are arranged in coplanar relation with respect to the cross bars 15 and 16, and the cross pieces 19, 2G and 21 are affixed to the side rails 17 and stringers 18.

The numerals 22 and 23 indicate aligned center rails which are interposed between the stringers 18, and the center rails 22 and 23 are arranged in coplanar relation with respect to the stringers 18 and side rails 17. The numeral 24 indicates a horizontally disposed rod which extends through the first center rail 22. and through the pair of stringers 1% and into the side rails 17.

As shown in the drawings the top 14 further includes horizontally disposed spaced parallel dowels such as the dowels 25 and 26.

An opening 27 is defined in the intermediate portion 3,127,043 Patented Mar. 311., 1964 of the top 14, and the numeral 2-8 indicates a hingedly mounted closure which is mounted for movement into and out of open and closed relation with respect to the opening 27. As shown in the drawing the closure 28 includes a pair of spaced parallel side members 2.? which have an end thereof hingedly mounted on the rod 24, and the opposite end portions of the side members 29' are beveled or inclined as at 31, FIG. 3.

The numeral 32 indicates an end portion of the center rail 23 which is shaped to include an inclined end surface 33 as well as an intermediate arcuate recess 34 and a fiat end surface or shoulder 35. The recess 34 is adapted to selectively receive therein the dowel 30' of the closure 28, as later described in this application.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided atop construction for a chicken coop or poultry crate, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that when the closure 28 is in closed position as, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the dowel 30 is received and held against accidental displacement within the recess 34 of the center rail 23. When it is desired to open the closure 28, as for example when chickens are to be placed in or removed from the coop or crate 10, it is only necessary to manually grasp the dowels 30 as, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 wherein in dotted lines the numeral 36 indicates a portion of a persons hand which is grasping certain of the dowels 3h, whereby the holding action on the dowel 36' can 'be overcome so that the closure 23 can be swung open on its pivot pin or rod 24 as, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. The numeral 37 indicates a horizontally disposed dowel on the top which is adapted to coact with the inclined surface 31 on the side members 29 whereby even when the parts such as the closure are subjected to heavy loads, breakage or damage to the parts will be prevented.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes,

An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the latching means which includes the configuration of the end portion '32 for cooperation with the dowel 30. Thus, the end portion 32 is shaped to include the slot or recess 34 which is adapted to receive the dowel when the closure 28 is in closed position so as to prevent inadvertent or accidental opening of the closure. In addition the inclined surface 33 functions as a cam face or guiding surface for facilitating the seating of the dowel 30 in the recess 34 when the closure or door 28 is being moved to closed position. The portion 35 is shaped to define a projection or shoulder which helps limit downward pivotal movement of the closure 28. The inclined surfaces or lips 31 on the side members 29 are important because with the closure 28 in closed position, the surfaces 31 will be contiguous to and just above the dowel 37 whereby the dowel 37 will help support the door or closure 23 so that the door 23 cannot be pushed down too far even when heavy loads are thereon. In actual practice it is often the case that chicken coops are subjected to heavy loads and other stresses or strains and, for example, often heavy set men will stand on the coops and for that reason the construction of the present invention is such that such heavy loads can be withstood without damaging or breaking of the parts, and the provision of the coacting dowel 37 and inclined surfaces 31 help bring about this desired result or effect.

The top construction of the present invention includes a closure that is easy to handle and wherein the parts are strong and durable and light in weight. The rod 24 can be made of a suitable material such as steel. To open the door 28 it is only necessary to simply pull up and to close the door it is only necessary to push down and the door snaps into place forming a positive latch that chickens, turkeys and the like cannot open. The door 28 hinges on a one-quarter inch steel rod 24 which is fixedly supported at the end portions thereof. The top utilizes a type of bridge construction with all top rails resting upon the end rails securely fastened from underneath and tied together with a plurality of hickory cross members. The dowels in the outside top rail are adapted to be arranged in staggered formation for increased strength and durability, and there are no mortiseo or shiplapped joints to crack, split or pull apart.

The door is hinged on the rod 24, and as the door is moved from open to closed position, the dowels 26 contiguous to the center rail 23 can bow slightly so that the center rail 23 can move slightly in a longitudinal direction in order to permit the necessary engagement or disengagement of the dowel 3% with the recess 34-. The end portion 32 is shaped so that the center rail 23 can slide or move back and forth slightly in order to permit the desired latching or unlatching action to take place.

Also, the parts are constructed so that regardless of how much normal abuse or load placed thereon, the parts will not be likely to be separated.

The projecting portion 35 helps provide a support for the dowel 3G in order to maintain the door in its desired and proper position when the door is in closed position relative to the opening 27. The particular configuration of the end portion 32 including the inclined surface 33, the arcuate recess 34, and the surface 35 are important features or aspects of the present invention. The present invention latches very easily, and when it is desired to close the door 28 it is only necessary to grab hold of it and swing it back and it readily automatically latches in proper position.

It is to be noted that there is provided the cross pieces such as the cross pieces 19, 2t} and 21 and these form or serve as reinforcing means and help insure that the closure will not accidentally break through the top even when the parts are subjected to heavy stresses or loads. Thus, the lower surface of the closure 23 is adapted to abut or engage the upper surfaces of cross pieces 20 and 21 so that the parts such as the hinge rod 24 will not work loose or break loose from its proper mounting in the top. Thus, the door or closure 28 will be properly supported or maintained in its desired or required location due to the provision of these cross pieces, and whereby the parts will not split or break out.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chicken coop, a top of rectangular formation and said top including a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel cross bars, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed side rails arranged at right angles with respect to said cross bars and aflixed thereto, said side rails being arranged above said cross bars, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed stringers interposed between said side rails and arranged in the same plane as said side rails; first, second and third cross pieces arranged in coplanar relation with respect to said cross bars, and said cross pieces being afiixed to said side rails and stringers; first and second aligned center rails interposed between said stringers and said center rails being arranged in coplanar relation with respect to said stringers and side rails, a horizontally disposed hinge rod extending through said first center rail and through said pair of stringers and side rails, said top further including a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed dowels extending between the side rails and stringers and between the stringers and first center rail, spaced parallel horizontally disposed dowels extending between the stringers and rigidly connected to the second center rail, the dowels connected to the said second center rail being capable of being bowed allowing the said center rail to move slightly in a longitudinal direction, there being an opening defined in the intermediate portion of the top between the stringers and between the first and second aligned center rails, one of said dowels connected to the second center rail adjacent the opening forming a support dowel, a hingedly mounted closure mounted for movement into and out of open and closed relation with respect to said opening, the hinged end of the closure resting on one of the cross pieces and the other end of the closure resting on another of the cross pieces when the closure is in closed position, and said closure including a pair of spaced parallel side members hingedly connected to said hinge rod, and said side members of the closure each having an inclined end portion which rests on the support dowel when the closure is in the closed position, and said second center rail having an intermediate arcuate recess and a projecting lower portion which has a fiat end surface providing a shoulder, said recess adapted to selectively receive therein the first dowel secured between the side members opposite the hinged end of the closure.

2. In a chicken coop, a top including a pair of cross bars, a pair of side rails arranged at right angles with respect to said cross bars and affixed thereto, a pair of stringers interposed between said side rails; first, second and third cross pieces arranged in coplanar relation with respect to said cross bars, and said cross pieces being affixed to said side rails and stringers; first and second aligned center rails interposed between said stringers and said center rails being arranged in coplanar relation with respect to said stringers and side rails, a horizontally disposed hinge rod extending through said first center rail and through said pair of stringers and side rails, said top further including a plurality of dowels extending between the side rails and stringers and between the stringers and first center rail, dowels extending between the stringers and rigidly connected to the second center rail, the dowels connected to the said second center rail being capable of being bowed allowing the said center rail to move slightly in a longitudinal direction, there being an opening defined in the intermediate portion of the top between the stringers and between the first and second aligned center rails, one of said dowels connected to the second center rail adjacent the opening forming a support dowel, a hinged] y mounted closure mounted for movement into and out of open and closed relation with respect to said opening, the hinged end of the closure resting on one of the cross pieces and the other end of the closure resting on another of the cross pieces when the closure is in closed position, and said closure including a pair of side members hingedly connected to said hinge rod, and said side members of the closure each having an inclined end portion which rests on the support dowel when the closure is in the closed position, and said second center rail having an intermediate arcuate recess and a projecting lower portion which has a flat end surface providing a shoulder, said recess adap ed to selectively receive therein the first dowel secured between the side members opposite the hinged end of the closure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,587,167 Kelley Feb. 26, 1952 2,651,815 Aylor Sept. 15, 1953 2,970,712 Carpenter Feb. 7, 1961 3,014,608 Aylor Dec. 26, 1961 

1. IN A CHICKEN COOP, A TOP OF RECTANGULAR FORMATION AND SAID TOP INCLUDING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SPACED PARALLEL CROSS BARS, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SIDE RAILS ARRANGED AT RIGHT ANGLES WITH RESPECT TO SAID CROSS BARS AND AFFIXED THERETO, SAID SIDE RAILS BEING ARRANGED ABOVE SAID CROSS BARS, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED STRINGERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SIDE RAILS AND ARRANGED IN THE SAME PLANE AS SAID SIDE RAILS; FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CROSS PIECES ARRANGED IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CROSS BARS, AND SAID CROSS PIECES BEING AFFIXED TO SAID SIDE RAILS AND STRINGERS; FIRST AND SECOND ALIGNED CENTER RAILS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID STRINGERS AND SAID CENTER RAILS BEING ARRANGED IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID STRINGERS AND SIDE RAILS, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED HINGE ROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST CENTER RAIL AND THROUGH SAID PAIR OF STRINGERS AND SIDE RAILS, SAID TOP FURTHER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED DOWELS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AND STRINGERS AND BETWEEN THE STRINGERS AND FIRST CENTER RAIL, SPACED PARALLEL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED DOWELS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE STRINGERS AND RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE SECOND CENTER RAIL, THE DOWELS CONNECTED TO THE SAID SECOND CENTER RAIL BEING CAPABLE OF BEING BOWED ALLOWING THE SAID CENTER RAIL TO MOVE SLIGHTLY IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION, THERE BEING AN OPENING DEFINED IN THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE TOP BETWEEN THE STRINGERS AND BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND ALIGNED CENTER RAILS, ONE OF SAID DOWELS CONNECTED TO THE SECOND CENTER RAIL ADJACENT THE OPENING FORMING A SUPPORT DOWEL, A HINGEDLY MOUNTED CLOSURE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF OPEN AND CLOSED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING, THE HINGED END OF THE CLOSURE RESTING ON ONE OF THE CROSS PIECES AND THE OTHER END OF THE CLOSURE RESTING ON ANOTHER OF THE CROSS PIECES WHEN THE CLOSURE IS IN CLOSED POSITION, AND SAID CLOSURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE ROD, AND SAID SIDE MEMBERS OF THE CLOSURE EACH HAVING AN INCLINED END PORTION WHICH RESTS ON THE SUPPORT DOWEL WHEN THE CLOSURE IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, AND SAID SECOND CENTER RAIL HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE ARCUATE RECESS AND A PROJECTING LOWER PORTION WHICH HAS A FLAT END SURFACE PROVIDING A SHOULDER, SAID RECESS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY RECEIVE THEREIN THE FIRST DOWEL SECURED BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS OPPOSITE THE HINGED END OF THE CLOSURE. 